Internal-combustion pump.



J. WILKINSON.

INTERNAL COMBUSTION PUMP.

APPLICATION FILED JAN. 14. 1914.

3 SHE TS SHEET I.

Patented Apr. 18, 1916.

Inventor: .JamesWilKinson, sfl

Witne sses:

V itn eases.

J. WILKINSON. \NTERNAL COMBUSHON PUMP. APPUCATION FILED JAN.14, \9I4.

Patented Apr. 18, 1916.

3 SHEETS 'SHEET 2- lih l l i \nventor". JamesWilKinson,

His a ttorr gy J. WILKINSON.

INTERNAL COMBUSTION PUMP.

APPLICATION FILED JAN.

Patented Apr. 18, 19M.

3 sHEETS sfiEET 3.

A744; His oqttorru Inventor-z James WilKinson, y

Witnesses:

i,- TE TATES Purser o more.

JATJIES WILKINSON, OF SCHENECTADY. NEW YORK. ASSIGIIOEE "f0 GENE-HEAL ELF) Tit-31C COMPANY, A CORPORATION OF "NE-EV YORK.

INTERNAL-COMET STION PUMP.

Application flied January 14, 1914.

of New York, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in internal-Cour lu'istion Pumps, of which the following is u specification.

lVriy invention relates to internal combustion pumps in n ch the products or comiiustion not directly on a liquid, and its oh- ;gect to ei'uihie such pumps to operate in novel Way and to improve them in other respects.

V lliUll-E advantages that can be. secured in connection with my invention will here inafter become apparent, and its scope will be indicated in my claims.

In accin'dunce with my invention. I on range that during; the explosion or burning of a combustible charge and the expansion of the products of combustion that constitute it working; stroke of the pump the liquid acted on by them shall accumulate or store kinetic or potential energy (or both), and that this energy shall be utilized in producing the desired pump delivery pressure and in con'ipressing one or more of the con tituents of another charge. This action can; I find, be secured and utilized to the best advantage by providing ii. working space or chamber in which the explosion or combustion of the charges occurs and a pump space or chamber proper huving inlet and discharge means and connected with the Working chamber by passage means so arranged that the liquid can flow freely back and forth through i hetwjen the chambers so as to develoo kir tic e1 orgy and transform it into p vtential enetrgy first in one direction iind men in the lother, somewhat after the murder of a pendulum, I also find that special advantages can be secured by en'iploying a relatively dense or heavy liquid as a medium to accumulate or store kinetic or potential energy and to transmit the force of the expanding products of combustion to the fluid to be pumped: among the advantages thus obtained 1 may mention the ability to secure a high speed of opera-- tion as compared with what is possible when the energy accumulated or stored by a liquid of lower specific gravit I have hereinafter shown and described several forms of pumping apparatus constructed ggcordance-with my invention.

Specification of Letters Patent.

and a similar pumping chamber 3, and there utented Apr. i 25-bit Serial No. 812,142.

in which mercurv is used a, ii for operating upon the liuid to These types of apparatus are receive motor or other liquid or other 3;; gas or vapor at pressures eith 1 :nt

below utu'uispheric and to deliver either high or low heads. 'lfht adapted H; il use of as producer i'iliiUi'Z rrucf Mi dust or other solid. r the Forms of uppurutu' are the host the pin we or at irescut known to 1 Jul rile Yeutiou extends to these forms of up; and to their-specific features and details or operation and constructicui and their \i. rious novel combinations and zirrungemei of parts, yet the invention not confined :5 thereto or to the use of ur-rcur z. but can be carried out in other Ways.

In the accompanying drawing, Figure 1 is a sectional View of a pumping apparatus constriurted in accordance with my rm tiou, various parts being broken out 22nd moved to bring the apparatus as :1 Whole Within the limits of the paper. This up rutus is cspecizilly suitable for pinup iguinst low or moderate heads. Fig. 2 diugrmmnutic, section-.11 View illusti'ut the main features of u modified form of rippuratus more suitable for pumping against high heads than that apparatus shown Fig. 1. Fig. 3 is a similar diugraminat sectional view illustrating the main features of another modified form of apparatus. Fig. l is u fragmentary diagrun'imutic sectional View illustrating the operation of the c in of apparatus shown in Fig. 3.

In the apparatus shown in Fig. 1 there is a casing part 1 containing an upright cylindrical combustion or Working chamber 2 is also conduit means citintaining a U passage 4 connecting the lower ends of these chambers. As shown, the chambers 3 and 3 are of substantially the same dimensions, while the passage 4- is considerably sine in cross-section than either of them; but it will he understood that these pro may he widel variedv The Worl oer J has inlet minus 5 Ior ticn of operating fiuid comp fuel opening into its up u.

313st means .6 for the rocucts of combustion o'oeni. g

lower end, and the pump chamber 3 has intake and discharge means 7 and 8 for tho Water or other fluid to be pumped, both opening into its upper end. Although uner suitable conditions of operation the con:- i.) I 1 in the rorking chamber 2 can be brought iout a result of compression of the operating fluid therein, this particular as electric ignition means at the per so a. oi said chamber for producing or insuring ignition at the proper time. The inlet means 5 for air and fuel, the exhaust means 6, and the ignition means 9 are all associated With a. removable top or cover 10 at the upper end of the chamber 2. There is also an opening 1! into the chamber 2 or the introduction of compressed air or the like for starting purposes orfor the in rroduction ofrmercury or other liquid require i It wi'lhb'e seen thatthe water intake means and discharge means 8 both open into an i and discharge chamber 1:2 in a se 'ia ratecasing part mounted on top of the cas ing 1 and o ening downward into the Chan her 3,-the former through a spring actuated inwardly opening check valve and the latter through a similar outwardly opening check "alve ll.

It will be seen that the apparatus con tains sullicient m cury to fill the Working chamber and the passage 4, and that on top of mercury in the Working chainr of water, oil, or other suitable liquid to protect the against oxidation or the like.

The and fuel inlet rectly downward through has beneuth'it a sort of hood 15 which gives the incoming fluid a Whirl that tennis to insure complete filling of the uppcr part of the chamber 2 thereby and to remedy any lack of uniformity in the previous mingling of its constituents includes valve 16 of the air and fuel passage within the hood l5 and a fiost 17 of iron or other suitable material arranged; in the lower part of the chamber 2 and connected with the valvelo by a rod 18 on which it adjustably EIGHTH ed This flou l7 responds to the fall and oi the mercury in the chamber 2, and thus the admission of air and fuel is con trolled by the movements of the mercury, as hereinafter described As shown, the no per end of the rod 18 extends up through thecover 10 so that when the pump is in operation its movements can be observed and the speed of the pump determined.

he exhaust means 6 for spent products passage open ell-- the cover 10 and that seats over the mouth of combustion comprises a, pipe or tube extending through the cover 10 and downward in the center of the Working chamber 3' i rlv to its bottom where it. terminates "1, the opening into the passage 4.

The inlet meansu also,

l'n'the lower end of th." cleiiector 21 which n" ing the opening obvia I would otherwise st for n i into the chamber 2 from the rapidly to shoot straight u little above the deflector thei ber of downwardly anti outvv holes 22 through the 5 i pipe these holes 22 are about at the level at which the falling mercury will cause the float 17 to open the air and fuel valve 16, so that when on the Working stroke the uncovering of these holes by the mercury allows the spent products of combustion to escape into the exhaust pipe 20 fresh air and fuel will. rush in to take their place and. .lillS; as it were, scavenge the Working chamher. At the upper end of the exhaust pipe 20 is a spring mounted outwardlv opening check valve The spring beneath this valve 23 is just strong enoughto balance its Weight, so that it will open when the pressure in the pipe 20 exceeds that of the region into which said pipe opens and close when these conditions are reversed.

The electric ignition device 9 comprises a stationary contact or electrode bridge piece 2- extending the lower end a cylindrical bore in the cover 10; inc-v able contact or electrode 2& carried by a piston 25 in said bore but therefrom; and a helical the piston and spring 26 between a screw plug 27 in the upper end of the bore that tends to force the piston downward and for most of the time keeps the 8lBC\ odes in Contact. The electrodes 21%. and 24' are connected by Wiring 28'with a, suitable source of current so that when the gas or vapor pressure in the working chamber causes their separation at the proper. time an are or a spark shall oc cur between them. Accumulation of gas or vapor above the piston to such an extent as to interfere with this action. may be prevented by making the opening 1' the plug 2? through which passes the conductor 39 directly connected with the movable electrode 24 large enoughto serve a vent.

I will now describe the operatic of the apparatus: The condition shown is that at or about the end of the return or suction stroke,-the mercury in the working chainher 2 being at substantially its highest level with a charge of air and fuel compressed above it and that in the exhaustpipe 20 an extent approximately corresponding to the compression of the charge, the air and fuel inlet valve 16 being closed, and the exhaust valve 23 being open for the exhaust of of combustion from the previous working stroke; the pump chainher 3 being full of Water and water intake and discharge valves 13 anti. being suitably insulated closed and the piston having begun to rise under the pressure of the cozu'ge so that the device 9 in tluact of igniting it or has just done so. l nmcdiat ly after the explosion, the expanding prooucts of combustion (aided by the potential energy of the mercury represented by the height thereof in the working hamber above its level in the pump chamber l) will force the 10 mercury down in the working chaml'ier :2 and cause it to rise in he exhaust pipe "20 to a height appro: mating or even exceeding that corresp i'iling to the explosion pressure and thus evpel the greater part of the spent gases therefrom. At the same time, the mercury will also be forced through the passage l 12;? 1 the pump chainthe her 3, pushing lcr therein out through the ilisclthe pressure in iliqchambcr .2 has fallen sulliciently and the niercury C(ililll'li'l l he exhaust pipe 20 has, used up about ali oi its upward momentum in drawing up more ."ncrcurv behind it and in forcing out spent gases ahead of it, the mercury in the pipe 20 will begin 60 fall, for the most part passing down "around the baffle 21 right into the passage 4 and so acquiring considerable momentum and aiding in the forcing out of water from the pump chamber 3. As the column of mercury falls, the exhaust check valve 23 will close and a partial vacuum will be formed in the upper end oi the exhaust pipe. By the time almost all of the water 3-5 in the pump chamber 3 has been driven out and the kinetic encrizv oi the mercury has been almost entirely pended or converted into potential.l-ci'mrgy {represented by its height in theplunp chamber 3 above its 40 level in the Working chamber 2:), the inercury around and within the exhaust pipe 20 Kill uncover the holes '32. whereupon the ro lucts of combustion will rush through them into the exhaust pi e,---*this action being aided by the vacuum therein and by the scavenggin5}, action of the air and fuel admittedtb ough the valve 16. The coming to rest of the mercr at this time or shortly after The unbalanced weight of the mercury in the bump chamber 3 will now bring about a reverse movement or return stroke, ,he mercury falling in the pump chamber 3 and rising in theivorking chamber 2' and in the exhaust pipe "20. During, the return slrol-ie, the mercury will sir'k water nto the pump chamber 3 from the intake 7 (or allow it to flow in or itself), close the air and (3 in the win-kin chamber gas inlet valve- 80 2 and th cal'tcr con'ipress t in sun that ant. rai

will conclude the working stroke.

the \voikin stroke will eventually be restored whereupon the device 9 will again actfio produce ignition, and another working stroke will ensue.

In the foregoing description of an ordinary cycle of the pump a previous initial starting, of the apparatus into operation is assumed. It w l readily be seen, however, that when the pump stops special measures may be necessary to start it into operation. If, for example, the stoppage as due to a failure or shutting off of the supply, of air or of Fuel (or of both), the working chamber 2 willprrabably contain cold products of combustion under a certain degree of pres,

sure. To'start the pump under these conditions, air under pressure may be forced into thec'hainber 3 through the opening '11 so to produce sort of artificial wonking stroke ending with an exhaust and an admission of air and fuel. and followed by a normal return stroke and ignition; or, alternatively, a valve 31 inthe discharge may be temporarily closed and water or air under pressure may be forced into the Water intake and discharge chamber 12 and the pump chamber 3 through the opening 32 so as to compress the gas in the working chanr her 2 and force the mercury up nearly to the top of the exhaust pi pc 20, after which the opening of the valve 31 will be followed by an artificial working stroke and a normal return stroke and ignition, as in the other method. If, on the other hand. the stoppage of the pump was due merely to failure or cutting off of the ignition current, there will probably be a charge of air and fuel in the working chamber 2 under slight compression; and in this case it may be possible to start the pump by merely turning on the current and drawing up the piston 25 by means of its insulated current supply conductor 30 so as to cause ignition of this charge, without any of the other measures above described.

Referring, now, to the high head pump shown in Fig. it will be seen that While the main features of the apparatus are the same, the relative height and cross-section of the working chamher lfl and the pump chamber 43 are such that the range of movement or stroke of the mercury in the latter is about three times as great as in the-former. In consequence of this there will be a differential speed relation in the movement of the mercury in the chambers 42 and 43, and there-fore the total kinetic energy of the mercury will e very much greater if a suitably heavy charge of fuel is used without the stroke in the working chamber 42 being excessive. l will also be observed that in this a, {the air and fuel valve ll; is

held shut by a spring, so that its opening will caused by drop in pressure in the working chamber 42 about as the haust begins instead of by the mercury itself, and that the ignition device 49 is adapted to becontrolled otherwise such a system is a very economical one for the production of power.

Referring, now, to Fig. 3, it will be found that the apparatus differs from that shown in Fig. 2 principally as regards the exhaust. As shown, the exhaust pipe 50 is freely open at both ends and has no holes corresponding with the holes 22 shown in Fig. 1, and beneath the flared open lower end of the pipe 50 is a ball float valve 51 of iron, steel, orother suitable material adapted to be seated pressure tight thereon vententrance of the mercury thereinto at any stage of otherwise occur. hen at the end of the Working stroke the mercury falls low enough in the working chamber 52, the ball'51 will drop away and open the pipe .30 to the exhaust, and, as shown in Fig. 4, it may then be allowed to seat pressure tight on the beveled opening into, the passage 54, so that the vacuum which further movement of the mercury in the latter will produce beneath said valve may both check or damp any tendency for an excessive rise of the mercury in the pump chamber 53 and help the head thereof in said chamber to start the mercury quickly into motion on the return stroke. It will be seen that in this apparatus the ignition device 69 is similar to that shown in Fig. l, and that a float (S0 connected by a rod 61 with an indicator 62 in a transparent Walled chamber 63 serves as a clearance indicator to show the height 'to which the mercury rises in the working chamber 532 I do not herein claim the power system hereinbefore embraced in 812140, filed herewith.

In accordance with the provisions of the patent statutes, I have described the prin ciple of operation of my invention, together with, the apparatus which I now consider to represent the best embodiment thereof; but I desire to have it. understood that the ap described, since the same is my application Serial No. .ian. H, 1914, concurrently operation during which it might paratus shown is only illustrative, and that the invention can be carried out by other means.

IVhat I claim as new and desire to secure by Letters Patent of the United States, is,+

An internal combustion pump comprishaving inlet and discharge means for fluid to be pumped, and passage means connecting said chambers independently of the pump chamber inlet and discharge through which liquid means affording free passage independently of the pump chamber inlet and discharge connecting said chambers, and a .body of liquid relatively heavy as compared with the fluid to be pumped adapted to flow back and forth between them through said free p sage and so freely develop momentum.

body forth the lower-ends of said chambers,and a of mercury adapted to flow back and between the chambers through said free passage and so freely develop momentum.

4. An internal combustion pump comprising an upright working chamber having at its upper end inlet means for the constituents of a combustible charge and at its lower end exhaust means for spent products of tween them through said free passage and so freely develop momentum.

In witness whereof, I have hereunto set I WVi tnesses HELEN Onrono, MARGARET E. W OOLLEY.

It. is hereby certified that in 1 mum-1: Puflfhi Nu Li'r'kLSSlh, granted April )8, I916,

upon the application of James \*'\i:kin un, uf ticlwnerrmdy, New Yurk, for an improvoment in 1utelnui-Cumbusthm Pumps, errors appear in the printed specification requiring correction eefnllm'mi Page L line W for the word "thaw read the rlyfc'rmzw 1 Him-1m 3i 11 ml ,3!" and that, the said the." H1"? 3. line '72 for Letters Patent should be rend will: a .-'.;x rm:mune therein that the same may conform in the record of the case in ihe Pnwut Qiiice.

Signed and sealed this 16th day n1 May, A. 13., 1916.

{SEAL} J. '1. NEWTON,

C1 dating Commissioner of Patents. 

